Please update the drive application so that if I delete a file from my source folder, it also is deleted from the pogoplug. Basically, please allow mirroring. Then I can finally stop using synctoy!
How To Back Up Your Files with Active Copy on Pogoplug
Recently, Pogoplug announced brand new firmware and Drive Application software for Pogoplug users. (For more information on the firmware update, click here - and for more information on the Drive App update, click here.)
One of the most important features in the new Drive application is called "Active Copy," and brings an excellent automated backup feature to the Pogoplug. Here's a quick tutorial to help you get started with using Active Copy.
What is Active Copy?
Basically, Active Copy will scan a folder that you select, either on your local machine or a network connected drive, and copy files in that folder over to a folder on the Pogoplug. As of the writing of this article, if left on, Active Copy will continuously monitor the folder for changes, and copy to the Pogoplug as appropriate. This feature can be used in a variety of ways; for example, keeping your Music folder on your local machine mirrored on the Pogoplug, or having a constant up-to-date backup of all your documents or photos.
Using Active Copy for the First Time
The first time you run the new Drive Application, you'll be prompted to enter your My.Pogoplug login information. After doing so, another dialog box will pop up asking you if you'd like to set up active copy for the "standard" media folders for either Mac (Pictures, Videos, Music) or PC (My Pictures, My Videos, My Music.) If you choose to use any of these backup options, it will automatically set up the copy on the first available drive on the first connected Pogoplug, in a folder of the same name.
You can also change the location of these backups by using the "change location" link next to each.
Backing Up Custom Folders
You can also, of course, set up Active Copy to copy from any location to any folder on your Pogoplug connected drive. To do this, click the large "Set up Active Copy on a New Folder" link in the Active Copy panel. You'll be instructed to choose the folder from which to copy files - it can be on your local machine or a standard network connected drive.
Once you've chosen the source location, you'll then choose a destination on your Pogoplug drive. You can choose an existing folder or create a new one via the dialog that will pop up, as shown above. Select the destination folder, then click the "choose" button.
Once this is all complete, click the "Start" button to enable Active Copy.
Active Copy Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many copy operations can I have running at the same time?
A: Only one will run at a time, but you can set up a total of 64 copy operations
Q: I’m getting an error that says “Unable to run Active Copy – you are not on your LAN” what does this mean?
A: The Drive application will, by default, not execute a copy operation unless the Pogoplug Enable Device and the CPU are on the same LAN (subnet). On the bottom of the Active Copy pane there is a checkbox “Only run Active Copy when you are on your LAN” uncheck that and you will be able to run copy operations no matter where your computer is in relation to your Pogoplug Enabled Device
Q: I tried to copy and I’m getting a Copy Failed – why?
A: The most common reason is that the Drive application could not reach the drive on the Pogoplug Enabled Device. Click “stop” and check the message. If it says “Copy to folder” Destination is not available, check to make sure the Pogoplug Enabled Device is active (the LED is green), and that your drive is online and can be reached through the drive application. Once you have verified that the drive application can reach the drive, click start again
Q: How does the drive application know what to copy?
A: When you click Start on any copy operation, the drive application will listen to that folder to see if anything has been added or updated. When it detects an updated or added file, it will wait 60 seconds to see if there are any other updates (for example, if you have just moved a number of files into that folder). 60 seconds after the last event the copy operation will start, moving any new files to the destination location and over writing any files with a different size or date
Q: I want to copy ONLY files that are newer – can I do that?
A: In this release an Active Copy will look for files where the time stamp (modified time) is different, not newer. If you were to have a file in your source location that is older, that will get copied to the Pogoplug Enabled Device drive and replace the new file. The ability to have only newer versions of the file copied to the drive app may be an option in an updated version of the drive application.
Q: I’m still having trouble getting an Active Copy to happen – what should I do now?
A: Check our user community (http://www.pogoplugged.com) – another user may have already found the answer, or email our customer support team at support@pogoplug.com
Q: If I delete a file / folder from my computer, will it also be deleted from the destination folder on my Pogoplug Enabled Device?
A: No – Active Copy will not delete any files from your Pogoplug Enabled Device at this release. The ability to set an Active Copy to remove files (mirroring the source destination) may be an option in an updated version of the drive application.
Q: What happens when I put a new HD on my Pogoplug? Do I need to reset my Active Copy?
A: Yes you do. The Active Copy knows which directory on which hard drive (or partition) it is supposed to go to, and will not switch to another one unless you specifically change the location. If you remove the drive to which a folder is copying, you will get see the indicator button turn red with the words “Copy Failed”
Q: What if I don't keep my Videos, Pictures, Music in the standard folders?
A: No problem! You can start an Active Copy from any folder you want. On the Active Copy pane of your preferences window click “Set up Active Copy on a new folder” and select the folder where you put your media. A new Active Copy operation will appear in the list – click start and your media will be copied to the location listed.
Q: Can I delete the pre-installed/shown Active Copy operations from my list?
A: You cannot delete the default operations but if you click stop, those operations will never run.
Q: Hmm… I’m running OS X Tiger (10.4.x), and something seems different…
A: You are correct – in Tiger you have to manually set up an Active Copy to run. The drive application will still copy folders from your computer to you Pogoplug Enabled Device, but you will have to set it up manually.
Still have questions?
Post them on the public forums! Enjoy your Pogoplug with Active Copy!
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2.0.3active copypogoplug drive
January 21, 2010 8:10 AM
updated: January 21, 2010 10:02 AM
Active copy seems to copy folder & all sub-folder content.
Is there a way to 'unselect' copy/sync all sub-folders?
It would be great to see tree/map of folders/subfolders with a checkbox next to each level to select which folders to activate for Active Copy. Is this 'on the roadmap' for future release?
January 21, 2010 10:25 AM
Follow-up question to above FAQ on copying only NEWER files:
FAQ says Pogo compares modified time stamp on Source vs Pogo drive, and, if different, copies the Source file to the Pogo. Correct?
Assume this is true, let's say I create Myfile.doc on my source drive (c:) and Active Copy automatically copies it to my Pogoplug drive. Later, while using a different PC remotely, I access Myfile.doc from my pogoplug. I edit the file and save it back to my Pogoplug.
The next time I use 'my' PC (with the original Myfile.doc on the c: drive), will Pogoplug see different time stamp between c: and Pogo (now the newer version) and copy the old, c: source file over the updated Pogoplug version?
Please let me know. This would be very important. I access & update my Pogoplug files regularly while using my work PC (my Pogoplug is connected to my personal PC at home).
January 21, 2010 11:47 AM
You are on the right track! Emulate what Dropbox does in terms of keeping older versions and you will have a Dropbox killer with all data on a users local LAN! This is an exciting path for Pogoplug in my opinion! Keep up the great work!
Editor
- member since: 04/21/2009
- rank: 3 of 6243
- 21 articles authored
- 53 forum threads started
- 266 comments
January 21, 2010 11:47 AM
@bigredboiler - As for the subfolder thing, I agree that this would be a cool feature to add, but it isn't present in this version. It will copy all subfolders in the folder you designate. I would use this, for example, to omit copying my podcasts folder from my master music folder.
As for the time stamp question, I'm going to refer to the folks at Pogoplug...
January 22, 2010 10:56 AM
@bigredboiler,
Your interpretation is correct - Active Copy doesn't look for newer, it looks for different. One of the reasons we decide to call this Active Copy and not sync or collaboration tools is that the feature isn't there yet to seamlessly support that kind of workflow. The product backlog has a number of feature items including true sync (keep these two directories the same) with the ability to choose which attributes will control (time stamp? file size? controlling directory? all possible).
thanks!
Jon
January 22, 2010 4:54 PM
updated: January 22, 2010 4:55 PM
When I click "Start" does this copy the files one time or will it be copying automatically from time to time in the background?
Some folders I'm backing up are mounted drives that I would only want to have copied manually when I specify.
January 22, 2010 7:08 PM
@SimonJester,
No need to use Active Copy if you only want to manually copy. Just drag & drop to P: (or use web interface 'upload'). 'Start' will begin auto update when local & pogo are different.
January 25, 2010 1:31 PM
What if i dont want everyone i share a folder with to be allowed to active copy on MY drive?
I just want to allow them to download stuff i put up, nothing more.
January 25, 2010 3:03 PM
@FLS4507,
When you create a share it is by default "View/Download", meaning no one can copy (Active or otherwise) anything onto your drive. If you click the share icon at the bottom of the web application while viewing the shared folder, you will see the list of users who have access to the drive and the toggle that should say View/Download. If it says Full Access, change it to View/Download and they won't be able to copy into your hard drive.
February 12, 2010 9:55 AM
two items:
1. pogoplug is not very reliable to host an itunes library; it's just too slow, and even unresponsive at times.
2. active copy seemed like a nice solution to having a mirror of my itunes library, readily available to my iphone from anywhere, that was automatically updated anytime i added something to itunes (my iphone isn't nearly big enough to hold my entire library). the problem is that it seems active copy has to recopy the entire library (50 gb just in the music folder) every time i add a single album to itunes. seems like a lot of unnecessary wear and tear on my drives.
sure will be nice when we get more control over exactly how pogoplug
Editor
- member since: 04/21/2009
- rank: 3 of 6243
- 21 articles authored
- 53 forum threads started
- 266 comments
February 12, 2010 1:33 PM
@joakes66 - I am using it exactly as you describe, to mirror my iTunes library, and it seems to be working just fine. I am not under the impression that it has to recopy all the data, I thought it only copied new files. Maybe Pogoplug can clarify?
February 12, 2010 1:43 PM
Hey folks,
Active Copy works like this - when you "Start" an Active Copy operation, the Pogoplug will listen for files that have been added or modified in the source folder (the notification comes from the OS kernel). When a change is detected, it will wait 1 minute to see if there are any other changes. 1 minute after the last change detected it will copy only the new / modified files to the destination folder.
@joakes66 - if it appears that Active Copy is moving your entire library every time you add a new album please contact support@pogoplug.com, and they can help you further.
J
February 23, 2010 2:51 PM
updated: February 23, 2010 2:52 PM
When I click to set up an active copy on a new folder it says beneath the added entry "Copy to folder: Destination is not available". The same message is shown for the other 3 folders already present (My Photos, Music and Video).If I click "Start" it says "Please select a destination before starting Active copy".
Could this be because the pogodrive doesn't have the latest firmware?
February 23, 2010 3:15 PM
check to make sure PPlug is connected. I usually need to "reload" each time my PC goes to standby.
February 23, 2010 4:47 PM
updated: February 23, 2010 4:48 PM
Thanks. It was a read issue which was resolved.
If a file is corrupted or edited in a way that the original file needs to be restored, I presume "Active Copy" would cause this to be impossible?
March 24, 2010 3:44 AM
This feature is very useful but does not seem to be enabled in the Linux version. Have I missed something? If it is not available, are there any plans to update the Linux version?
March 24, 2010 5:20 AM
I don't run the Drive App on my main machine, because it's doing 64-bit Snow Leopard.
However, I notice that Active Copy is available from the my.Pogoplug.com.
But here's the catch -- the Web version only allows Active Copy between folders that are already on the Pogoplug. So there seems to be no way of doing the really useful thing, which would be to use Active Copy to upload, eg, Movie files to the Pogoplug for UPnP distribution.
Am I missing something?
--
Chris
April 14, 2010 6:19 PM
It states the following:
Q: What happens when I put a new HD on my Pogoplug? Do I need to reset my Active Copy?
A: Yes you do. The Active Copy knows which directory on which hard drive (or partition) it is supposed to go to, and will not switch to another one unless you specifically change the location. If you remove the drive to which a folder is copying, you will get see the indicator button turn red with the words "Copy Failed"
How do I "reset my active copy"? I did change the hard drive and now none of my active copy directories are working. I get a "Destination is not available." What are the steps to re-implement my active copy.
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